A CAMPAIGN to lobby for the opening of a new train station in Leytonstone looks set to be stepped up.

It has been proposed that a stop be built in Cann Hall Road on the Gospel Oak to Barking line to both improve transport links and help revitalise the area.

The Cann Hall Residents Association first proposed the idea several years ago but rail campaigners say the Leyton and Wanstead Constituency Labour Party, which includes several leading councillors, has also now expressed an interest.

The Barking to Gospel Oak Line Users Group (BGOLUG), which recently gave a talk to the party including a discussion of the possible new station, says it fully supports the idea and wants to highlight the issue further.

Its assistant secretary Glenn Wallis said the proposal was a long way off but that it would be significant if the Labour-lead council did take up the cause.

The party is thought to be reviewing its stance on the issue.

It comes in the wake of the authority's push to get Lea Bridge station in Walthamstow reopened using community grant money from the developers of the Westfield megamall in Stratford.

Mr Wallis said: "There will not be insurmountable problems in building a station at Cann Hall Road although one house there may have to be demolished.

"It would cost a bomb, as new stations do these days, but it's doable. The benefits could be great for the area.

"Cann Hall is fairly poorly served by public transport and this would increase access for a large number of residents.

"If we can get some support from the council and more noise is made about it we could start to see some movement."

Meanwhile in other rail news, BGOLUG has expressed frustration at delays to the building of a walkway between Walthamstow Central and Queen's Road Station.

It was made a condition of controversial plans to develop the area around Walthamstow Central, including with a 14 storey high hotel, when the council gave it permission last year.

The decision appeared to conclude the saga over the battle for the pedestrian link, which had been running for years.

However the first part of the walkway between Queen's Road and Edison Close was due to be completed by the end of 2011, but work is still yet to begin.

This was despite Transport for London (TfL) installing a sign in December mistakingly advertising the walkway before hastily covering it up days later.

Mr Wallis said Network Rail wanted to redesign the link and construction was now not due to begin until April.

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